These ideas are in response to the question "have we run out of music?"
the fact is that it is impossible for any one person to know every
piece of music that exists in the world. so many things can come about
from those already limitless possibilities that no one knows about
without having to resort to novelty.
I went to university this year to study Composition .. halfway through the
year my Lecturer pulled me aside and told me that while he felt I understood
the ideas and principles of music well .. he would be giving me a non-continuing
grade because my ideas did not fit into the musical paradigm of the school.
His suggestion was that I study Sculpture not music.
I do agree with the sentiment of lot of what Tom has to say. However
I still am not sure how to quantify thinking outside the square as just a
novelty or some gimmick to trick out the music.
Music has always been advanced by technology. While the the harmonic
properties of a strung piece of string had been know for a long time. It was
the combination of many different technologies that lead ultimately to the
piano.
As you expressed Tom dance music is often produced by one person who
plays all parts of the music. It was technology that enabled this.
So why is it not foreseeable in the future that through technology an artists
would not only place a note in time but to also place that note in space.
In a world of limitless possibilities why limit the possibilities.
I was reading today about technology used in US warships for listening
underwater. They have emulated they way fish use sensors along the
length of their body to 'listen' to their environment.
The ships carry special microphones that run the length of their hull.
With these microphones and software they are not only able to establish the
location of objects underwater to with several millimetres of accuracy but also
tell the size shape and density of these objects. This ability to map space
so accurately is achieved through the use of reading sound waves.
Early this year there was a scientist who studied some of the world most
popular music pieces using advanced geometry algorithms. He discovered
that popular chords in music map into a 3D space of precise geometrical
forms. While a major chord develops a nice symmetrical form, dissonant
chords produce less cohesive structures.
For anyone with an interest in music and the study of harmonics and
fundamental frequencies, these types of studies might draw their interest.
You can also look at the study of Cymatics which is how different frequencies
form patterns in substances when vibrated. There are some nice youtube
videos that show how you can rotate delicate salt structures in different
directions by changing the frequency.
These are not novelties, they are sonic facts. Why is it not possible for an
artists to incorporate this type of knowledge into their music?
I see Techno with its strong melodic and harmonic structures and its almost
complete use of computer technology and sound reinforcement systems as
an excellent candidate for utilising this type of information.
The study of Cymatics alone should be curiosity to any Dj who has spent
time watching a dance floor while they play records.
When I followed the link to the information about the Loft parties I noticed
that
there was specific instructions on how to set up the sound system. I would
argue that in an unconscious way these specific set-ups are reflective of
producing foundation patterns that you can see through Cymatics.
Why is presentation so important to me?
Because it's part of the process, its part of the music. I think if you are
interested are in dance music and in presenting music on reinforced sound
systems then it should be natural that you would be interested in the results
of these set-ups.
Sure it doesn't matter, you can get away without knowing.
But in the pursuit of soul, in the search for a deeper understanding of groove
maybe it's worth while looking into the physical manifestation of groove in
the sound waves that a sound system produces.
Techno music is only 20+ years old. Classical music has a tradition is over
400 years old. These traditions developed concert halls with advanced
architecture to improve the acoustics for listening. These traditions
developed advanced methods for building musical instruments.
Are the traditions of Techno going to last 400 years? Why should the
traditions of Techno music not also play a significant role in the development
of sound systems and music presentation.
For me these are all ideas to consider, just different ways of approaching
music because it is my passion. Becasue this approach is not conventional
and the scope of consideration is not standard does not make it a novelty.
Considering these ideas and trying to incorporate them into music is not a way
to fix music but to way to advance it, to participate with music and give it
life.
.simon
